Delaware State Senate District 21
Delaware State Senate District 21 is represented by Bryant Richardson (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Delaware state senators represented an average of 47,183 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 42,899 residents.
About the office
Members of the Delaware State Senate serve both two- and four-year terms and are not subject to term limits.[1] Delaware legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November (the day after election day).[2][3]
Qualifications
Article II, Section 3 of the Delaware Constitution states: "No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of twenty-seven years and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the State three years next preceding the day of his or her election and the last year of that term an inhabitant of the Senatorial District in which he or she shall be chosen, unless he or she shall have been absent on the public business of the United States or of this State."[4]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[5] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $50,678/year | No per diem is paid. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Delaware General Assembly, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy happens must call for a special election within 10 days of the creation of the vacancy. The election must be called for no less than 30 days but no more than 35 days after the writ for the special election has been issued. The governor may issue a writ if the legislature is not in session.[6]
See sources: Delaware Code Ann. tit. 15, § 7101
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On November 2, 2021, Gov. John Carney (D) signed Senate Bill 199 into law, enacting the state's new House and Senate district lines.[7] The Delaware General Assembly previously approved the final House and Senate map proposals on November 1, 2021.[8] The Delaware House of Representatives voted 40-1 in favor of the maps with state Rep. Michael Smith (R) voting against it. The Delaware State Senate approved the maps along party lines with all 14 Democrats in favor and all seven Republicans against.[8] These maps took effect for Delaware's 2022 legislative elections.
How does redistricting in Delaware work? Because Delaware has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature draws state legislative district lines. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[9][10]
State law requires that state legislative districts be "insofar as possible, contiguous and bounded by roads, streams and other natural boundaries." Further, state law stipulates that district lines "may not be drawn to unduly favor any person or political party." Because these requirements are statutory, the legislature may amend them at its discretion.[9][10]
Delaware State Senate District 21
until November 8, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Delaware State Senate District 21
starting November 9, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Delaware State Senate District 21
Incumbent Bryant Richardson won election in the general election for Delaware State Senate District 21 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bryant Richardson (R) | 100.0 | 17,105 |
| Total votes: 17,105 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Bryant Richardson advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware State Senate District 21.
2022
- See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Delaware State Senate District 21
Incumbent Bryant Richardson defeated Sonja Mehaffey and Chris Dalton in the general election for Delaware State Senate District 21 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bryant Richardson (R) | 86.8 | 10,013 |
 | Sonja Mehaffey (Nonpartisan Party) | 8.5 | 986 | |
| Chris Dalton (L) | 4.7 | 541 | ||
| Total votes: 11,540 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Bryant Richardson advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware State Senate District 21.
2018
- See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Delaware State Senate District 21
Incumbent Bryant Richardson defeated Bob Wheatley in the general election for Delaware State Senate District 21 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bryant Richardson (R) | 65.0 | 8,816 |
| Bob Wheatley (D) | 35.0 | 4,741 | ||
| Total votes: 13,557 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Delaware State Senate District 21
Bob Wheatley advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware State Senate District 21 on September 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Bob Wheatley | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Delaware State Senate District 21
Incumbent Bryant Richardson advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware State Senate District 21 on September 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Bryant Richardson |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
- See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Delaware State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 8, 2014. Incumbent Robert L. Venables, Sr. was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Bryant L. Richardson was unopposed in the Republican primary. Richardson defeated Venables and John Potter (L) in the general election.[11][12][13]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Bryant L. Richardson |
53% | 5,210 | |
| Democratic | Robert L. Venables, Sr. Incumbent | 45.9% | 4,514 | |
| Libertarian | John Potter | 1.1% | 113 | |
| Total Votes | 9,837 | |||
2012
- See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of Delaware State Senate consisted of a primary election on February 11, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 6, 2012. Incumbent Robert Venables (D) defeated Bryant Richardson (R) and John Potter (L) in the general election. The candidates ran unopposed in the February 7 primary elections.[14] [15]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Venables Incumbent |
55.9% | 8,955 | |
| Republican | Bryant Richardson | 43% | 6,889 | |
| Libertarian | John Potter | 1.2% | 187 | |
| Total Votes | 16,031 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2002 to 2024, candidates for Delaware State Senate District 21 raised a total of $410,188. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $25,637 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Delaware State Senate District 21 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $8,144 | 1 | $8,144 |
| 2022 | $31,578 | 3 | $10,526 |
| 2018 | $106,500 | 2 | $53,250 |
| 2014 | $84,358 | 3 | $28,119 |
| 2012 | $34,473 | 3 | $11,491 |
| 2008 | $11,050 | 1 | $11,050 |
| 2004 | $104,927 | 2 | $52,464 |
| 2002 | $29,159 | 1 | $29,159 |
| Total | $410,188 | 16 | $25,637 |
See also
- Delaware State Legislature
- Delaware State Senate
- Delaware House of Representatives
- Delaware state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Delaware State Legislature, "Delaware State Senate," accessed December 16, 2013
- ↑ Delaware Constitution, "Article II, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Delaware Constitution, "Article II, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ The Delaware Code Online, "Article II. Legislature - Section 3," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Delaware Legislature, "Delaware Election Code," accessed May 22, 2014 (Statutes § 7101 and § 7104, Delaware Code)
- ↑ Delaware General Assembly, "Senate Bill 199," accessed Nov. 15, 2021
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 WGMD, "Redistricting Legislation Passes in Delaware – Waiting for Governor’s Signature," Nov. 1, 2021
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 All About Redistricting, "Delaware," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Delaware Code, "Title 29, Chapter 8," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official general election candidate list," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Delaware Secretary of State, "2012 General Election," November 4, 2013
- ↑ Delaware Secretary of State, "2012 General Primary,” November 4, 2013
